How hard to get into a "non-home" resort during summer months?

[720L]

We are thinking of buying into DVC....but have LOTS of questions! How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

 

[phorsenuf]

We are thinking of buying into DVC....but have LOTS of questions! How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

It's really hard to say. Alot depends on location, time frame, room size. For instance Wilderness lodge is very popular at Christmas so you may be hard pressed to get that. The Boardwalk area is busy during the food and wine festival. So it's hit or miss.
I'll share my experiences. I've booked a 1 bedroom at Boardwalk in April on a 2 weeks notice. I booked a 2 bedroom at BC for February on a 4 month notice. I was always told BC was really hard to get. So I was lucky or it's not a popular time at BC.
For us we are flexible. While we may have certain preferences in our mind, we'll be happy at any of the resorts.

 

[720L]

We can't decide to buy now with the current special, or wait until AKL joins DVC and have that be our "home" resort.

 

[phorsenuf]

We can't decide to buy now with the current special, or wait until AKL joins DVC and have that be our "home" resort.

Well, I guess it boils down to money. Right now you can buy in at (with the promotion) at $86. per point. AKV (IMHO) will more than likely be pushing $105. per point.
That's a difference of $2850.


Me? I'd save the money and try to reserve at AKV at 7 months. If I get in, I get in. If not I try another time. I'm so easy. LOL

 

[starbox]

We are thinking of buying into DVC....but have LOTS of questions! How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

HH is very difficult to get in June/July/early August at 7 months. You'll have better luck with the Disney area-resorts, since summer is not the most poupular time of the year for DVC owners to travel. For example, F&W is going to much harder to book at BCV/BWV than it is in June.

 

[Jenbear]

I have been a member since 2005 and we have been to the Disney World 5 times since then and I have never stayed in my home resort (Saratoga) because I've wanted to try the others that were cheaper etc. We have stayed in OKW, Wilderness in 1 bedrooms; Boardwalk in studio. This was always in July. I waitlisted 1 night between all of these dates and I usually booked in a couple of months out. (I always got my first choice) When I stay, its usually for 3-5 days at a stretch. I agree that I would buy in now with specials.

 

[Granny]

How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

A very common question from prospective buyers. I highly recommend clicking on the link to the following thread for an excellent discussion of the topic and many others... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634&page=1&pp=15

 

[daisyduck123]

How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

Well, our home resort is SSR but we wanted to stay at BCV in early August.
I was very nervous that we wouldn't get it.
BUT....we called last week ( at 9 a.m. on the first day of our 7 month window) & WE GOT IT for the whole 5 nights.

I was soooooo relieved!

 

[dvcnut39]

We just booked BWV from 21-28JUL07 and had no problem. We requested and got a preferred view studio. I really anticipated a problem and was surprised at the ease to which we got it.

 

[nhdisnut]

For the past two summers we have been able to book non-home resorts at the 7 month window for the first week in August. Last year we booked a pool view studio at BWV. This August we were able to book a studio at OKW (just this past week, in fact).

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are a lot of members trying to get BCV for early to mid-June right now. And they are not having that much luck. If you want a non-home resort you probably need to make that reservation at 7 months exactly.

 

[starbox]

There are a lot of members trying to get BCV for early to mid-June right now. And they are not having that much luck. If you want a non-home resort you probably need to make that reservation at 7 months exactly.

It seems like Disney in general is booking up and getting more crowded. I'd say that if you want a reservation for a specific date anywhere, you'd do well making it at as close to 7 months as possible.

Last year, I had trouble about 3-month prior adding a night to a POR reservation that I had made in advance and it was for early June - not even a holiday week. It seems like more and more resorts are booking solidly by 3-4 months prior.

 

[PinkTink63]

We are thinking of buying into DVC....but have LOTS of questions! How hard is it to get into your "non-home" resort during summer months/and or busiest times?

I just booked BC for my friends for July 30-Aug 6. I could have got the BWV too!

 

[Smitty844]

My next return home is scheduled for August 12-22, 2007 in which we are presently booked at SSR. Yesterday, 1/13/07 I started making my change to BCV for our first night and had no problem at all. Starting on Tuesday morning I will attempt to book the next three nights and so on until I arrive at January 23rd to book our last nights stay.

MS advised me that all looked good that we can obtain all nights in a 1 bedroom, but to stay course and all each day until our ressie is completed. Needless to say, I will be on the phone starting Tuesday morning (MS is closed Monday due to the holiday) until January 23rd.

This is the first time I have attempted to change to another DVC resort from my HR, SSR. I am sure that this is much different during the Peak Season times, but so far so good.

Smitty

 

[JLitfin]

What about VB at the 7 month period, let's say last week of June through early August?

I'm planning my vacation for 2008 with BC our home resort and VB which is a non-home resort. What do you think do you believe this will work booking BC at 11 months and VB at 7 months? Will it be hard to reserve VB?

Thanks

 

[Smitty844]

The only problem with VB is that this is peak summer season for that resort. Obviously it would not make sense to make a ressie at BCV at the 11 month window because of the location of VB. Again, it might be tough for the ressie at VB as most members purchased VB just for that purpose, they wanted to be on the coast for the majority of their Disney plans with the option of ressies at the main resort in Orlando. I would just cross my fingers and call daily during the time frame of your request during the 7 month window.

Smitty

 

[Dean]

I think anyone who has their heart set on one resort should buy there in almost all cases, the price difference is not enough to justify the aggravation. Really the only exceptions that that come to mindare if they can't ever plan more than 7 months out or they will always go slow times like Jan, May and Sept. Summer is not that difficult though overall unless you want specific room types or views such as a 3 BR GV, BWV BW view, BCV 2 queens in second and the like. HH would be the exception but only for mid summer. And those that truly travel in the slower times and can do with a 1 BR or smaller are likely better off buying other timeshares outside Orlando and trading in for those times.

 

[starbox]

What about VB at the 7 month period, let's say last week of June through early August?

I'm planning my vacation for 2008 with BC our home resort and VB which is a non-home resort. What do you think do you believe this will work booking BC at 11 months and VB at 7 months? Will it be hard to reserve VB?

Thanks

We purchased earky last June and were trying to make reservations for our fisrt-week-of August trip. VB, OKW, and SSR were all open about 6-weeks prior. I don't think VB is very hard to get at 7 months if you are going in the summer. We reserved early June this year at 7 months without a problem, even got the ocean view room we wanted.

VB is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!! Despite the increased dues cost, we're seriously considering an add-on there because it looks like we'll always want to spend about 1/3 of our points at Vero! I just need to try HHI first (considerably closer to us, but it's hard to imagine it living up to the great experience we had at Vero) and see what VAKL is going to be like......

 

[starbox]

The only problem with VB is that this is peak summer season for that resort.

Actually, the more southern Florida beaches (Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Cocoa, Vero) have their peak season earlier: March-June - because so many people crave a beach getway in the spring and you need to go south to get warm beach weather. June/July/August is just too darn tropical for many people and the south Fl. beaches are less desireable. I think June/July/August is mid-season on the point charts at Vero.

The more northern beaches (HHI, Panama City, Destin, Myrtle) all peak in June/July/August because they don't really warm up until late May.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I have a question too. I REALLY want OKW for Dec 2-7th 2007(2 studios). I just did the vacation planner and I will be on a cruise on my 1st day of mt 7 months. So it will probably be 1 week later before I can call. What do you think my chances are? I have BWV for a back-up.